Helianthus lenticularis
| Helianthus lenticularis | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 10' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Helianthus lenticularis (common name: wild sunflower)
Propagation: Seed - sow in mid spring in situ. An earlier start can be made by sowing 2 - 3 seeds per pot in a greenhouse in early spring. Use a fairly rich compost. Thin to the strongest seedling, give them an occasional liquid feed to make sure they do not become nutrient deficient and plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils in a sunny position[1]. Requires a rich soil[1]. Dislikes shade[1].
The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, plants can be totally destroyed by them[K].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[2].
Probably no more than the wild form of the cultivated sunflower, H. annuus, it is treated as a sub-species of that by many botanists[1][3].
Range: N. America - Minnesota to North Dakota, Idaho, Missouri, Texas and California.
Habitat: Roadsides and waste places[4] in rich soils[5].
Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked[6]. The seed can be dried and ground into a powder then used with cereal flowers in making breads, cakes and rich soups[7].
An edible oil is obtained from the seed[7].
The roasted shells, after the starch has been removed, or the roasted seeds, can be used in preparing a coffee-like beverage[7].
Pollinators: Bees, flies
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: H. annuus lenticularis.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Munz, David. A California Flora. University of California Press, 1959.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.